Karnataka CM to launch three major road infrastructure works in Dharmasthala on Wednesday

DHARMASTHALA: Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday will dedicate three major road infrastructure works amounting to Rs 23.5 crore in this temple town in the run up to mahamastakabhisheka of Lord Bahubali slated for February 2019. These infrastructure works will be a permanent contribution to mark anointment event held every 12 years, D Veerendra Heggade, dharmadhikari, Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, said here on Tuesday.
B T Kantharaj, superintending engineer, PWD, Mangaluru circle said the district's major road leading from the main temple arch to the bathing ghat – a distance of 2.70-kms – will be widened to seven metres from existing three metres at a cost of Rs 7.5 crore. The link road leading to the temple will be widened to 3.75-metres and asphalted. Likewise, road leading to bus depot will be widened to 7 metres and 500 metre stretch concreted, he said.

The 600 metre road from the Kshetra to Bahubali betta at Ratnagiri will be developed at a cost of Rs 1 crore. Works in this package include widening from 3m to 7m and asphalting, laying 1-metre wide interlock pathway for 600 metre distance, renovation of existing parking area, he said. Tenders for these works will be invited in the next 15 days and every effort made to complete the same in the run up to the mahamastakabhisheka, he said.

Most important component of the work is developing the Subrahmanya-Udupi state highway from kms 52.00 to 54.85 in to a four-lane road, he said, at a cost of Rs 15 crore. This will come with a cement concrete drain, 3 metre wide footpath with interlock paving, one box culvert, three culverts and other items. The existing two-lane road will not be disturbed and additional two lanes with a 3-metre median constructed on the other side, he said.

GROUP INSURANCE SCHEME LAUNCH

Heggade said on October 29, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman will launch the group insurance scheme for SHG members in association with Life Insurance Corporation of India in the presence of LIC chief V K Sharma. Newly elected MLAs of DK and Udupi district will be feliciated on this occasion, he said. The scheme that will cover 4.2 million SHG members in the state is the first of its kind in the country, Heggade added.